Dario Frommer, chair of the California Transportation Commission, issued a statement on the release of the California High-Speed Rail Authority‘s new business plan.

“Unfortunately, I cannot be in Sacramento…for the release of the new high-speed rail business plan because my flight was cancelled due to fog at the Burbank Airport,” Frommer said in the statement. “If California already had high-speed rail built, I could have simply jumped on the train. This really underscores the fact that, not only will high-speed rail create a million jobs and reduce carbon emissions, it will also make life easier for Californians who now rely on our outdated and overburdened transportation systems.

“Under the draft business plan released…Californians would pay $60 to $80 for a one-way ticket from Los Angeles to San Francisco,” Frommer continued. “That’s a bargain compared to the $200 one-way ticket many of us are paying to fly the same route. California can’t afford to not build high-speed rail.”

The Illinois Tollway today announced that it is seeking firms to provide design, management and other technical services for 22 new contracts associated with the 15-year, $12 billion capital program Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future.

The contracts will provide for more than $200 million in services over the next five years for new projects including the Elgin O’Hare West Bypass, the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) rebuild and widening and the Tri-State Tollway (I-294)/I-57 Interchange.

“In August, the Illinois Tollway Board of Directors approved the Move Illinois Program providing a guide for system improvements over the next 15 years,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “The contracts advertised today will put the first phase of this new capital program in motion, so we can deliver some significant improvements for our customers.”

A highlight of work being advertised includes:

Program management services for the Move Illinois Program. This selected firm will assist the Tollway with overall program management, technical and administrative services.

Corridor management services for the $3.1 billion Elgin O’Hare West Bypass project. This firm will assist the Tollway with day-to-day management of existing and future design contracts for the new roadway.

Corridor management services for the $604 million Tri-State Tollway (I-294)/I-57 Interchange. This firm will assist the Tollway with day-to-day management of existing and future design contracts for the new interchange.

Nine design contracts for the $2.2 billion rebuilding and widening of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) scheduled between 2013 and 2016.

Firms interested in submitting proposals for the professional services contracts can go to the “Doing Business” section on the Tollway’s website www.illinoistollway.com for more information. Contracts with selected firms will be awarded by the Illinois Tollway Board of Directors in the next several months, with work starting in early 2012.

The Illinois Tollway follows the qualifications-based selection process mandated by state statute to hire firms for professional services contracts. Statements of interest submitted by firms prequalified by the state are reviewed by a committee of Tollway, Illinois Department of Transportation and independent engineering officials. The committee selects the top three firms based on qualifications and then the Tollway negotiates a final contract price with the top-ranked firm.